We find this at the beginning of the Ten Commandments. There’s a preamble or title, where the superior party makes their introduction. These ancient treaties had several standard pieces, and we see each of them in Deuteronomy. This is God offering land and protection to Israel in exchange for undivided loyalty.
Like the Incarnation later in the Bible’s story, this is God speaking a language humanity understands. This is what Deuteronomy is: God making one of these official treaties with Israel. The enemies of the lesser kingdom became the enemies of the big king. The resources of the big king became the resources of the lesser kingdom. So a big king would make an alliance with a lesser kingdom, offering military protection and land for loyalty. The ancient near east included several big kingdoms (like Egypt and Assyria) and lots of little kingdoms (like Israel, Edom, Moab, and Ammon). If the vassal broke covenant, he forfeited his land grant.” Hence, often the vassal owed his territory and even his throne to the suzerain. It was also common for a suzerain to initiate this relationship by gifting his vassal with land. “If the vassal was threatened by a domestic rebellion or foreign assault, the suzerain was expected to step in and defend. The responsibilities of a suzerain in this sort of arrangement always involved military protection. Although the suzerain typically allowed his vassal to continue to rule his own people (and thereby maintain his own government and traditions), legally the suzerain owned all of the vassal’s land and produce. “In this sort of covenant, the suzerain had authority over the land and people of the vassal nation. As a result, in this sort of treaty the partners referred to each other either as ‘father and son,’ or as ‘lord and servant.’ Again, the metaphor of family was used to explain the political relationship established. “ Here one party was clearly more powerful than the other and therefore had the right to demand submission on the part of his weaker ally. In her book Epic of Eden, here’s how Sandra Richter describes the standard suzerain/vassal treaty in the ancient near east: Deuteronomy reminds us that God keeps promises.Ĭritical to our understanding of Deuteronomy is our recognition of its pattern as a standard treaty between two parties in the ancient world. It’s one single sermon, beginning to end, given by Moses remembering all that’s happened prior to entering the Promised Land. Numbers is an anthology of stories from the wilderness wanderings of 40 years. Leviticus is a book about how God wants to be worshiped. Exodus gives the story of God’s deliverance of this family from the slavery of Egypt, along with the giving of the Law and the building of the tabernacle. In the Pentateuch-that is, the books of Moses- Genesis tells of creation and fall and God’s redemptive plan starting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The prophets, especially, sound the alarm when this covenant is being forgotten. Much of the Old Testament refers back to Deuteronomy. It’s God, expressing to a new generation, his plan for how human beings are supposed to live and get along in the world. For the gospel writers, Deuteronomy was quick on the lips of Jesus.ĭeuteronomy presents a plan for Humanity 2.0. Later, when Jesus is quizzed by some Pharisees about the most important commandment, he again quotes Deuteronomy. Jesus is tempted, and with each temptation, Jesus quotes lines from Deuteronomy to the devil. The writer of Matthew’s gospel starts Jesus’ ministry with a story of Jesus in the wilderness. It shapes community for God’s mission in the world. This is why the book of Deuteronomy matters.
Under inches of glass, sits this piece of paper that, ideally, holds the government of this big and influential nation together. Among the thousand touristy things we did on that trip, I got to see the Constitution. When I was a kid, my family took a trip to Washington, DC.
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